Todd Porter: OSU might switch up starters

Todd Porter

Friday

Sep 26, 2008 at 12:01 AMSep 26, 2008 at 9:45 AM

Fall is here, and the Big Ten season is about to start. That doesn’t mean playing time is set in stone. Starters at Ohio State could change like the leaf colors soon. You may want to call Ohio State’s depth chart fluid, somewhat unusual for Jim Tressel.

Fall is here, and the Big Ten season is about to start. That doesn’t mean playing time is set in stone. Starters at Ohio State could change like the leaf colors soon. You may want to call Ohio State’s depth chart fluid, somewhat unusual for Jim Tressel.

Freshman Terrelle Pryor has taken over as the starting quarterback. Center Michael Brewster may be auditioning to keep a starting position on the offensive line. The Buckeyes have not looked like a top caliber team in their first four games and their offense has sputtered.

Tressel said there’s competition on the defensive line, secondary and at wide receiver.

“If I’m a D-lineman and I get 30 plays, I want to make my 30 plays better than the other guys’ at my position,” Tressel said. “That’s competition. In the secondary, we’re going to play five or six guys.”

Starting wide receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie may not get as many snaps Saturday in the conference opener against Minnesota as they have been.

“(Hazell) has really stepped up the competition for more reps from some other guys,” Tressel said. “He’s planning on rolling in his receivers a little bit more. Now, which ones are going to show that they should be the ones rolling in?”

Tressel has taken more of an interest in the offensive line at practice. Senior left tackle Alex Boone, who has been a disappointment, said Tressel has been in the faces of linemen during practice and urged them to play faster and with more velocity. Boone also had a one-hour closed-door meeting with Tressel.

“I think it’s a bit overblown,” Tressel said of his role on the offensive line. “We need to play faster. We need to relax and let loose. If I need to come down there and remind them of that, then OK. ... They don’t listen to a lot of what I say, but they must have heard that.”

The line has been inconsistent and struggled to open holes for reserve backs Daniel Herron and Brandon Saine. Pryor has been more successful turning designed pass plays into yardage with his feet.

That offense should get a shot in the arm with running back Chris “Beanie” Wells expected to play Saturday. Without Wells the last three games, the Buckeyes are averaging just 3.5 yards a carry. Wells, who was injured in the opener against Youngstown State, averaged about 8.5 a carry that game.

“He looked great (in practice),” Boone said. “He was out there making cuts, and you’d never thought anything was wrong with him. When we get him back we can show people we’re the powerhouse running team we used to be.

“Getting him back will add confidence to the offensive line.”

Tressel gave the line a kick in the pants. They’re getting a shot in the arm.

“We just need to play better,” Boone said.

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